Machine for reducing stock-feed materials



Sept. 4, 1923. 1,467.131

.H. s. WIKEL ET AL MACHINE FOR REDUCING STOCK FEED MATERIALS Filed Sent. 25, 1920 5 Sheeds-Sheec l INVENTOR WITNESES: ATTORNEY Sept. 4, 1923.

H. S. WIKEL ET AL MACHINE FOR REDUCING s'r ocx FEED MATERIALS Filed Sept. 25, 1920 5 SheetS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Sept. 4, 1923.

H. S. WIKEL ET AL MACHINE FOR REDUCING STOCK FEED MATERIALS Filed Sept. 25, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR A'ITORNEY WITNESES:

R Y mw 1 4 lfirwmm 0V 3 t a A 11 8 W .r lt I 1 e mm M 5 w T A M D Am F9 T 1 Em LT? E KG? IND. W18 ms 5mm 81 HR F O F E N I H C A M Sept. 4, 1923.

WITNESSES:

Sept. 4, 1923.

H. S. WIKEL ET AL MACHINE FOR REDUCING STOCK FEED MATERIALS Filed Sept. 25, 1920 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ITN SE Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED STTES M61131 PATENT GFFECE.

HENRY S. WIKEL AND MARTIN F. THATCHER, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR REDUCING STOCK-FEED MATERIALS.

Application filed. September 25, 1920. Serial No. 412,690.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY S. WIKEL and MARTIN F. THATOHER, citizens of the United States, residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Im rovements in Machines for Reducing took-Feed Materials, of which the followingis a specification.

Our present invention has for its general object the provision of a machine to cut and recut and to grind and regrind or comminute stock-feed materials with a view to softening stock-food, and one that is simple in construction and efiicient in operation on wet or dry materials, is so constructed and arranged that no adjustment is necessary for the proper reduction of different feed materials, is adapted to be actuated with the expenditure of a minimum amount of power, is not liable to become choked or clogged, and is adapted when occasion demands to be positively cleared of collected feed material.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects hereinafter developed, the invention consists in the improvement as hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, hereby made a part hereof Figures 1 and 2 are elevations of'opposite sides of our novel and advantageous machine.

Figure 3 is a lan view of the same.

Figure 4 is a ongitudinal vertical section of the machine with parts in elevation.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section illustrative of the rotary cutter for what may be properly designated long-stufl feed material such as grasses, stalks and the like.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail elevation of the toothed concave that cooperates with the lowermost roll for reducing corn and other grain. I

Figure 7 is'an enlarged detail longitudinal section of a portion of the same.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail section of the same showing one section at right angles to Figure 7 Figure 9 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation of the lowermost roll that cooperates with the said concave.

Figure 10 is a detail section of the roll taken at right angles to Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a face view of the concave that cooperates with the secondary cutting orcomminutlng roll than the long-stuff.

Similar numerals and letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

The main frame A of the machine may, of course, be of the construction illustrated or of any other construction compatible with the purpose of the invention. Carried by and fixed with respect to the main frame A is a cas1ng B, an elevator housing C, longitudmal spaced upright walls D, and a hopper E. Disposed below and arranged to receive from the hopper E and also arranged in the upper portion of the casing B is a sub-hopper F the lower portion of which is foramlnous as indicated by G.

Revoluble in the lower trough-like portlon B of the casing B is a screw conveyor H the function of which is to make the comnunuted feed materials and to move the mixture to one side of the machine for the discharge of such mixture materials to 'the lower end of the elevator housing C. The endless conveyor I in the housing C is provided with lifts J by which the reduced material or materials are raised and discharged through the spout K at the upper portion of the housing. Theupper shaft L complementary to the said conveyor is provlded with a sprocket gear w through which the shaft is rotated for the movement of the conveyor as hereinafter described.

Intenorly the casing B is divided by a artition M on which are chutes N and P.

cated in the casing at one side of the partition M is a transverse rock shaft 1 on which s a cam lever R. Fixed on the said shaft 1 is an arm 1, Figures 1 and 2 on which is a weight 1", the function of which is to yield 1n gly press the cam R toward the right in Figure 4.

At 2 in the casing-B is a transverse rock shaft on which is a cam S. Said rock shaft 2 isprovided at 2, Figure 1 with an arm on which is a weight 2", designed to yieldlngly press the cam S toward the left in Figure 4.

At- 3 in Figure 4 is a swinging toothed concave against which the cam R operates, and at 4 1s a toothed roll with which the said concave cooperates. At 5 in Figure 4 is a swinging toothed concave against which the cam S operates.

The toothed roll 4 is arranged adjacent to the chute P, and above the toothed roll 4 is a toothed roll 4" which is arranged under and adjacent to the chute N and also under an adjustable cut-off N through the medium of which latter the operator is en abled to control the supply of feed to the passage between the roll 4 and the partition M.

In the sub hopper F is a rotary cutter T on a transverse shaft 20, and in the hopper E is an a itator U on a transverse shaft 21. Above t e cut-ofi' N is an agitator V on a transverse shaft t. The shaft of the roll 4 is lettered g, and the shaft of the roll 4* is lettered h.

Opposed to the concave 51s a cutting roll W on a transverse shaft d, and fixed on a transverse shaft 8 is a rotary cutter, below which is a foraminous concave Y, and opposed to which is a stationary cutter bar Z.

At D Fi ures 1 and 3, is an endless apron to feed long-stuff. The said apron D is mounted on outer and inner rolls; the outer roll being preferably subject to means for taking up slack and the inner roll being fixed on a transverse shaft 17.

Above the inner roll complementary to the apron D is a fluted feed roll F, the same being fixed on a'shaft 14.

The several driving connections comprised in our novel machine will be fully understood from the following when the same is read in particular connection with Figures 1,2 and 4. First comparing Figures 1 and 4 it will be noted that a transverse shaft 5 is provided with a pulley 5, Figure 3, for connection with a motor; also, that said shaft 5 has pulleys 6 and a. The pulley 6 is connected by a band 7 with a pulley 7 a on the shaft8 of the rotary cutter X. At the opposite side of the casing to the pulley 7 a the shaft 8 is provided with a pulley 7 which is connected through a band 9, Figure 3, with a pulley 9 on a transverse shaft 10. At the opposite side of the casing to the pulley 9 the said shaft 10 is provided with a spur gear 10. Fixed to the shaft 17 of the inner apron roll is a sprocket gear 11. This sprocket gear 11 is connected by a sprocket belt '11 with a sprocket gear 11 on the shaft 13. It will also be noticed in Figure 1 that a spur gear 11 is fixed on the shaft 13 and is intermeshed with a spur gear 11 on the shaft 12. The shaft 10 is Journaled in a fixed bearing, and mounted to rock on the said shaft 10 is a head F on which are spur gears F and F. These spur gears-F and F are idlers and are always intermeshed with the spur gear 10 Said idlers F and F are shown in Figure 1 in neutral position. The fluted roll F is driven from the shaft 12 through the sprocket gear 12 on said shaft, a sprocket belt 12, and a sprocket gear 12 the latter on the shaft 14. By virtue of the rocking head F" equipped with the idler sprockets -F and F it will be apparent that when desired the apron D and the feed rolll? may be positively driven in reverse direction. This will be better understood when it is stated that with the spur gear F in engagement with the gear 11, the apron and the feed roll will be rotated in one direction, and when the spur gear F is in engagement with the spur gear 11 the apron and .the feed roll will be driven in the opposite direction; also, when it is stated that the rocking head F is provided with a handle F whereby it may be conveniently rocked by an operator. Thus when the apron D is being driven in the direction indicated by'the straight arrow in Figure 4 and the roll F 2 is being driven in the direction indicated by the curved arrow in said figure, the operator may when a congestion arises between the rotary cutter and the cutter bar Z reverse the direction of movement of both apron and feed roll so as to draw back some of the lon -stuff previously fed toward the cutter X. p

The shaft 14 of the feed roll F 2 is carried by arms 15 mounted to swing on the shaft 12. The said arms 15 are provided with pendent arcuate racks 19, and said racks are intermeshed with sector ears 18 fixed on a transverse shaft 16. so fixed on the shaft 16 is an arm 17 that bears a weight 17, Figure 1, whereby it will be observed that the feed roll F will be yieldingly held down to its work so that it has the capacity of accommodating itself to the volume of long-stuff between it and the apron D as said apron passes over the inner apron roll. This provision is also advantageous because it tends to prevent choking of the machine and contributes to evenness of operation.

By particular reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 it will be observed that the pulley a, on the primary drive shaft 5 is connected by a belt 6 with a pulley a on the transverse shaft cl whereby t e cutting roll W will be rotated. The shaft al also has fixed upon it a spur gear 6 that is intermeshed with a spur gear f on the transverse shaft 9 whereby the lower roll 4 will be rotated. The cooperating roll 4 on the shaft It is a floating roll, and is driven from the shaft 9 through the medium of a spur gear 71 thereon and a spur gear 7' on the shaft h, Figure 1. The shaft 9' is also provided with a pulley k that is connected by a belt m with a pulley n on the shaft 20, whereby the rotary cutter 1 will be driven. The shaft of the rotary agitator V is provided with a sproket gear 8, Figure 1, that is connected by a sprocket belt 7' with a sprocket gear 1) on the shaft 20 whereby said agitator V will be rotated. It will also be noted by reference of Figure 2 that the shaft 20 is provided with a spur gear a intermeshed with. a spur gear X on the shaft 21 whereby the agitator U will be rotated. At the same side of the casing as the spur gear a the shaft 20 is provided withb a sprocket gear a that is connected by a sprocket belt '0 with a sprocket gearmon the shaft L of the elevator whereby the elevator conveyor I is driven from the shaft 20. {it y is an adjustable device to take up slack in the belt '0. This device 3 is not, however, of our invention. The lower shaft L of the elevator is connected with the shaft L of the screw conveyor H, the connection 1ncluding a sprocket gear L on shaft L a sprocket belt L, and a sprocket gear L on the shaft L whereby the conveyor H will be driven from the elevator.

As before indicated the roll 4 is a floating roll which is so designated because its shaft k is journaled in swinging arms h. Extending upwardly from the arms h at oints above the shaft h are guide pins h,

igure 2 on which are abutments it, between which abutments and the arms h are coil springs h", the function of which is to yieldingly hold the roll 4 down to its work. The pins h are movable endwise through guides k and adjusting nuts h are mounted on the threaded portions of the pins hf in position to bring up against the upper sides of said brackets h".

In the practical operation of our novel machine corn or other grain to be crushed and cut or comminuted is fed into the hopper E, and long-stufi' such as grasses, fodder, and the like are fed to the apron D From this it follows that both grain and fodder may be reduced at one and the same tune through the medium of the machine, or, if preferred, grain alone or long-stuff or fodder alone may be operated on.

In the reduction of grain supplied to the hopper E the grain is first crushed by cooperatlon of the cylinder or rotary cutter T with the concave G, and from the concave the crushed or broken grain drops to the chamber containing the agitator V. From the said chamber thegrain passes to the roll 4 and between said roll and the partition M. It is then guided by the chute P between the rolls 4 and 4, after which it passes between the roll 4 and the concave 3, whereupon it drops to the bottom of the casing B to be carried out of the machine. The long-stuff fed by the apron D and the feed roll F is moved across the cutter bar Z and is first cut by the rotary cutter X in cooperation with the cutter bar Z. The cut-stuff then passes through the foraminations of the concave Y and drops on the rotary cutter W after which it is out between the rotarycutter W and the concave 5, and then drops to the bottom of the casing B to be carried out of the machine.

By particular reference to Figure 5 it will be understood that in the preferred embodiment of our invention the rotary cutter X is made up of a body w detachably fixed set screws w on the shaft 8, and arcuate b ades a2, detachably connected at w to the said body.-

j The cutting roll W is provided with longitudinal teeth w, Figure 4, which extend throughout its length and are disposed parallel to its axis. These teeth w are opposed to wavy'longitudinal teeth w on the concave 5, Figure 11, the wavy character of the teeth w being advantageous inasmuch as assures to the making of drawn cuts which contribute to the ease of operation ofthe machine.

Each of the rolls 4 and 4 is provided with longitudinal rows of teeth 4, the said rows being parallel to the axis of the rolls, and the teeth bein V-shape in cross section, Figure 9, and t e forward ends of the teeth being beveled as indicated by 4 in Figure 10. We would also have it here understood that the shaft of each of the rolls 4 and 4 is provided with a tapered cone 5, and that the complementary roll is provided with a tapered bore 5 and is detachably fixed to the cone through the medium of a key 5'.

This construction manifestly permits of either the roll 4 or the roll 4 being removed when worn or broken and replaced with a fresh roll at minimum cost.

As best shown in Figure 6 we prefer to form the swinging concave 3 of two or more sections so that when one section is worn or broken it may be removed and replaced with a fresh section without impairing the other section. The teeth 3 of the concave 3 are of V shape in cross section and are arranged in series or sets 3", of acute angle configuration. The spaces 3 between the acute angle sets 3 are also of acute angle formation. This provision is advantageous since it assures the cutting and recutting of the stock incident to the passage of the same between the roll 4 and the concave 3 and also because it assures th passage of the stock evenly between the concave 3 and the roll 4 by precluding a too direct passage of the stock. In other words because of the acute angle formation of the sets of teeth and the provision of the acute angle passages 3 between the sets of teeth the grain en route between the roll 4 and the concave 3 is caused to move diagonally toward one end of the concave and is then caused to move diagonally toward the opposite end of the concave before it is finally discharged from between the roll 4 and the concave 3.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the grain fed into the hopper E will be subjected to a primary cutting action or crushing action between the roll T and the concave G, and will then be subject to a comminuting or shreddin action between the rolls 4 and 4, after wh1ch it will be subject to a further cutting or comminuting action between the roll 4 and the concave 3. By virtue of this treatment the ain will be softened and will be better fitte for food and at the same time will be better fitted for commingling with molasses in the mixing apparatus constituting the subject of our accompanying application filed September 25, 1920, serial number 412,691.

It will also be apparent that the long-stuff will be subject to a primary cutting action by the cooperation of the cutter X with the cutter bar Z, and will then be subjected to a secondary cuttin operation by the cooperation of the roll V with the concave 5, with the result that the said long-stufi will also be effectively comminuted and rendered soft and thereby enabled to adequately absorb molasses in the before mentioned mixing apparatus.

Our improved machine is designed primarily for use on the farm with a View to enabling a farmer to use for stock feed purposes the appropriate vegetation that he raises, and the machine as illustrated and described has been reduced to actual practice and has been successfully operated.

Largely because of the adaptability of the feed roll F the concave 3 and the concave 5 to adjust themselves to the volume of material to which they are opposed, the machine is well adapted to operate on either dry or wet materials; and it will also be noted that the adjustable cut-ofl' N 2 enables the operator to regulate the feed to the roll 4" as conditions demand.

In order to contribute to evenness of operisomer ation of the two rolls 4 and 4 we prefer to employ on the shaft got the roll 4 a balance wheel T, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Having described our. invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

An organized mechanism for reducing difi'erent kinds of stock-feed materials and commingling the same, comprising a main frame, a casing therein and carried thereby, a screw conveyor in the bottom of said casing, a partition in said casing and provided a at intermediate points with upper and lower chutes, a hopper having a lower foraminous portion disposed in the upper end of the cas. mg at on side of said partition, a rotary cutter in the lower portion of said hopper, a rotary agitator in the casing at said side of the partition and below said hopper, an adjustable cut-off guided in one wall of the cas. ing and arranged below said rotary agitator and opposed to the upper chute on the partition, upper and lower toothed rolls arranged at said side of the partition and below said cut-off and also arranged with their meeting portions opposite the lower chute on the partition, and means in the casing at the opposite side of the partition and in communication with the portion of the casing below the partition for comminut-ing long stock feed matter.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

HENRY S. WIKEL. MARTIN F, THATCHER. 

